Troy expected to name new police commissioner

TROY -- The city is expected to name former Assistant Police Chief Anthony Magnetto as commissioner of the Police Department after the position was created by the city Council during budget negotiations last year.

Sources close to the situation believe Magnetto will be appointed to the $30,000 a year position, with some even claiming it would be announced on Monday. But city spokesman Mike Fraser denied these claims and said there is no schedule to make an announcement.

"There is no police commissioner in place at this point," Fraser said. "There has been no one selected yet."

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Magnetto was widely believed to be the person for the job when the position was initially created, as people felt it would be impossible for someone with the qualifications to accept a full-time position for only $30,000 a year.

Magnetto, though, retired from the department after 35 years of service and is collecting a pension. The salary allotted for the position is within the threshold, which would allow him to both serve in the position and continue to collect his pension.

The Council's decision to create the police commissioner position has caused a rift between Chief John Tedesco and city officials. While Tedesco sees the establishment of the position as retaliation from the Democratic majority on the Council, he added that he has not heard of anyone being selected to fill it.

He even went as far as retaining the services of attorney E. Stewart Jones as things moved forward.